Journals and Posts

Kenneth Earnest Adams 1894-1975 was married to Jessie Whittaker 1897-1984. They had one child Jacquiline Nancy Mary Adams. Kenneth and Jessie divorsed and he remarried.
I would like any information on the Whittaker side of the family, they are the chocolate makers. Jessies brothers and sisters etc and if Kenneth had any brothers or sisters?

Charles and Sarah Astle were both born in Wilne, Derbyshire, England, in 1809 and married in 1832.
They immigrated to New Zealand with their four eldest children Thomas 9, Mary 7, Harriet 4, and William 1, sailing from Eng on the ship 'Bombay'in July 1842, arriving in Nelson in Dec.
Records show that it was not a comfortable trip, being noted, like many voyages, for it's infant deaths.
It's recorded that Charles Astle spent two days on bread and water for falling asleep while on watch between decks. He also gave blood to a Mrs Joseph Cooke, who had given birth, to a son, on Nov 19th. The transfusion was given by means of an apparatus made with a funnel, an elastic gum tube, a cannula and the quill feather of a fowl!
Sarah, being pregnant with their fifth child did not have a comfortable trip. She was reported to have been nauseous and in pain for the whole voyage. She was given various medicines to try to ease her discomfit. She also received a pint of porter and preserved potatoes each day. Sarahs baby was not born on board and must have been born late Dec 1842 or sometime early 1843 but we have found no records of this child or it's name.
After their arrival they settled in Haven Rd, Nelson, where two more children Elizabeth 1845 and Hannah 1849 were born.
An early census shows Charles occupation as Carpenter and he is also mentioned as working, as a carpenter on the first bridge over the Maitai River.
Charles drowned in the Riwaka River on the 28th of January 1855.
Sarah continued to live in Nelson until her death in 1872.

Thomas William Josiah Chandler, born ~1852 in Jersey, UK and Ellen (nee Munday)born ~1856, Durham, Eng, were married at St Andrews church Christchurch New Zealand, aged 25 & 21 on the 27th Aug 1877. T W J Chandler's occupation is listed as Grocer.
Their first child was born 4th Sept 1878 and baptised William Arthur Chandler, but on the 20th Nov they registered a child, born on the 4th Sept, as Henry Arthur Chandler. This child was reg as being born at Glen Tui, Rangiora, New Zealand.
They had, that we know of, 3 more children,
Thomas Joshua 6th June 1880.
Clara Constance 27th July 1881.
Ellen Gertrude 6th May 1883.

There are 'Insolvency' and 'Bankrupt' notices in the CHCH press for T W Chandler 1879 & 1880. Store keeper at Waikari.

My Great Grandfather was William Chandler. His mother was Nellie Chandler and he had two sisters younger than him named Clara Mary and Ellen. They had been deserted by their father who they named on their marriage cert. as William or Thomas Chandler.

The first definite record we have of William was his 'arrest' in Wellington 1888, aged 8.

Evening Post 5/1/1888
'William Chandler, the child who has been under the care of the police since New Years Day, was today committed to St Mary's Industrial School, Nelson, by Mr Wardell Esq. Despite full inquiries made by police they failed to find the boys mother, though she is well known to authorities and although she was seen on the street immediately before the youngster was arrested.'

His mother is named as Nellie and she said that Williams father had left the colony.

From 'Papers Past' in June 1888, another Chandler descendant has found a report of the arrest of a Thomas Chandler at Dannevirke on a charge of deserting his wife and three children. He was returned to Wellington and placed before the court, agreeing to pay towards the maintenance of his family. His occupation is given as an Expressman (Horse and Cart Delivery Contractor) of English Descent. If this was their father it was too late for William and the girls. The Warrant(Police Gazette)had been issued on 15 November 1887, just before William had been taken off the street.
Interestingly Thomas William Josiah Chandler is listed on the 1890 Census as living in Bute Street, Wellington, occupation Carter. There is no mention of his wife and family.

The girls went to an orphanage in Wellington.
We believe this to be the same family but wonder what happened to little Thomas Joshua?
Also found in 'Papers Past' (but with no proof of connection to any one)
A Mr Chandler in court (Rangiora) for Wife Desertion, May 1881. (just a couple of months before Claras birth date.)
Passenger list for Ship 'Mawheru' arriving in Wellington with a Mrs Chandler and Children (3) listed as cabin passengers July 1884.
Also a death in Wellington for a Nellie Chandler (1893)who died of 'Delirium Tremens' and Pneumonia there is no 'next of kin' listed. Her age is given as 30 and she is buried in Karori Cemetery. Could this have been Williams mother? If it was Ellen Munday she would have been 37, but without 'next of kin' did they just guess an age?
It doesn't help that our Clara and Ellen had different names for their father on their marriage certs, one saying her father was William and the other said Thomas. Both said they were born in Wellington but again they were very young when they went to the orphanage and may not have know where they were born.

Our William ran away from the Industrial School more than once and ended up in Marlborough. He worked on Hastilows farm (Tua Marina) was a Logger at Onamaluto, served in the Boer war, then became a butcher at Renwick.
His army records, for the Boer War, name a Mary Chandler as next of kin, possibly it was Clara Mary Chandler.
He played cricket for Tua Marina. W. Chandler is also mentioned in running races but there is another family of Chandlers, with a William, who lived in the same area so it's difficult to tell which was which.
William married Eliza Ann Thompson of Grovetown, Marlborough. They had 5 children, 1 died as a baby.
William died aged 35, at Renwick, having accidentally shot himself while climbing through a fence. He was returning home from killing a pig for the butchery.
After his death Eliza moved back to Grovetown and worked as a dressmaker.

James and Mary (nee May) Spain were my great great great Grandparents.
My Mother and Aunt have done quite a bit of research on their family this is a little bit about one of our earliest New Zealand ancestors.
James Spain, aged 32 on the passenger list(really 42), was one of a group of men who were engaged by The New Zealand Company to set up the new town of Nelson. Records show his place of residence as being Minster, Isle of Thanet, Kent. He left England on the 2nd of May 1841 sailing on the 'Whitby' and arriving in Nelson on the 18th of Sept.
The men were promised paid employment for two years after their arrival. James was engaged by Capt. Liardet as a workman.
Mary, with their three children, Elizabeth 10, John 8 and Charlotte 5, travelled out with the other wives and children on the 'Lloyds" arriving in Nelson the 11th or 15 th of Feb 1842.
This is one of the saddest voyages and has it's own story in history. There were 73 women and 139 children on board. 65 children died on route to New Zealand.
It would appear that Elizabeth, John and Charlotte all made it. Certainly Charlotte did as she grew up to marry Thomas Astle
Mary died, in Nelson, aged 88 in 1883 and James, aged 86, in 1885.

I've asked before about Thomas Maxted,1748 of Kent,who married Elizabeth Knott 1750 and had good response so I thought I'd throw this information (question)into the pot and see what happens.
On another families web site Thomas's parents are listed as Franis (1718) and Mary (Margins)(1718) MAXSTEAD. Franis's parents as William(1677-1714)and Alice(1681-1731)SHAXTED both born Littlebourne, Kent. Does anyone have this same information or anything else on Thomas and Elizabeth, Franis and Mary, William and Alice.
They have William and Alice SHAXTEDs children as Franis, Alice, Mary x 2, Henry, Richard, another Alice and Edward.
Franis and Mary MAXSTEADs children as Phoebe, Thomas, Elizabeth, Henry, Richard, Mary x2, John x2, Barbara Ann, Sarah x2

Hi
Can any one help me with Thomas Maxted b. 1748 Ickham, Kent. married Elizabeth Knott b. 1750 Goodenstone, Kent.
They had a son Richard Maxted b. Wickhambourne 1779-1857 who married Mary Haugham possible Feb 1800.
They had Thomas 1809 and Robert possible 1831.
I'd like any information on any of these people, parents, siblings, children, births, deaths etc
Thomas, his wife Emma (nee griggs), their 6 children and Robert came out to New Zealand but were born in Kent.Thomas and family came on the 'Creswell' but we are unsure how or when Robert arrived.
Flower10
New Zealand